More User Reviews:

I got this on the cheap so got a few bottles yesterday.Poured into an imperial nonic a clear burnt orange and brass fusion with a 1/2 finger white head atop that left a broken ring as it settled.Alot of biscuit malt in the nose along with mainly leafy hops,the hops are not big but they have a presence.The malty notes are big as well as the sweetness on the palate,caramel and sweet dough with some sugary sweetness over top of a leafy mild fruity hoppiness.Well like alot of the style it's a little to sweet and malt driven but is a pretty good beer,I just want more hops!

Easily one of, if not the best ale produced by Saranac. Not overly powerful because of the use of fresh hops, but the smell and taste are really nice. Fresh, fresh, fresh. Nice pine notes and subtle citrus. Although it's hard to mess up a beer using fresh, whole wet hops, I think Saranac went a little too far by making this brew a Double IPA. The aggressive sweetness and mouth-feel of the malt overrides some of the bright characters the hops have to offer. In the future I'd love to see this as just a standard IPA, so that the hops may shine through as they should.

A: Pours a clear golden amber with a 2 finger rocky white head. Large bubbles form in the head and break it down fairly quickly, leaving just a spotting of lace. Tons of visible carbonation.

S: More of a bready malty aroma than I would have thought. Some hops are in there but they dont seem to take center stage. Getting a pretty decent spiciness as it warms

T: As with the smell it is much more malty than I had anticipated. The hops are pleasant and do seem fresh but again not really the focus. On the plus side it is very well balanced. Spice seems to be coming from the yeast

On tap at the Blue Tusk.Very fresh but I didn't enjoy it or finish even half my pint. The bitterness is in your face, its not so drinkable. Very vegetable taste. Above average mouthfeel of this salad. lacey and one eighth of an inch head.Balance would be an improvement.

A-Clear amber, not much head and what is there doesn't last long at all.

S-Bland for an DIPA, some citrus and earthy tones.

T-Earthy, resinous, pine, solid bitterness and some citrus.

M-Light, smooth but not much carbonation.

O-Saranac completely missed the mark here. If this was a regular IPA it would be decent but as a DIPA this is just off target. So far the only wet hop IPA I haven't cared for too much. Honestly wont seek it out again.

Straight pour from 22oz pry-off bottle to a 25cl Duvel Single tulip; bottling date of September 13, 2012 printed in yellow ink on the neck of the bottle, under the collar label (“2572”—a Julian code variant). So, nine days after bottling. Fresh. NOTE: I am reviewing this as an American IPA, not a I/DIPA, because even though the brewery calls it a double, the 7% ABV and build of this beer suggest otherwise.

Appearance (3.5): Solid two finger white head that dissipates slowly, kind of loose and rocky with a lot of fat bubbles in the middle of the head. The body is a crystal clear orange gold, and the head finally dies to a thin haze on the surface of the beer. Almost no lacing ☹

Smell (4.0): The nose is good but relatively tame—not horribly aromatic, but the hops come across as a bit grassy. They’re floral, somewhat peachy and citrusy (pineapple), and have a fruity character I can’t quite place . . . definitely opens up quite a bit more as it warms, and the floral tones become much more prominent. This is neat, I like it.

Taste (4.0): The hops come along first with a quick, piny punch, but move into a pronounced noble hop type of spiciness. Kind of dank in the transition. Towards the end, it moves into a very pithy, herbal bitterness, that finishes minty and nicely bitter—takes a while to drop off. Really digging this minty finish, actually. The malt body is a nice, bready, biscuity character, with a light toast that complements the pithy, herbal, minty bitterness well.

Mouthfeel (4.5): Excellent mouthfeel, really great. On the light side of medium. The hop oils feel nice in the body, the carbonation starts tingly and evenly distributed and then foams nicely on the way down, and it finishes very dry.

Overall (4.0): This is surprisingly well-done and very balanced. The mouthfeel is the only part of it that’s really excellent, and the appearance is kind of a letdown (some lacing, but frankly a really good American IPA should have gobs and gobs), but the aroma and taste are both quite good, especially as it warms, and it is distinct from other IPAs in its own way (nice toasty / minty combination in the finish). Not mind-blowing, but it’s really pretty good and definitely a worthwhile beer if you see it.

On-tap 1/24/2012 at Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub, in Pawtucket, RI served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep amber color with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains citrus, floral hops and caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts with a hearty malt character followed by sweet flavors of caramel and citrus. Then a strong but not over-powering hops presence comes in providing a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly hoppy.

Growler from Marcy Beverage. Pours a translucent amber color with a half inch of head. Some lacing. Aroma is grassy and citrusy. Biscuity with a good amount of hops. A bit spicy. Taste is floral hops. Some bitterness. Fair amount of malt flavor with a flowery finish. Good amount of carbonation with a light mouthfeel. Pretty easy to drink Imperial Ipa. This is one of Saranac's hoppiest offerings for sure. Pretty decent floral hop flavor with a decent amount of bitterness. Wouldn't mind having it again although it is a one shot deal. Overall, worth a try.